00:01Lentils, chickpeas and quinoa. There has been more and more of them growing in the fields of Alsace in recent
00:07years.
00:08Faced with repeated heatwaves and droughts, a group of farmers in Ilkirsch Grafenstaden, just south of Strasbourg,
00:16have decided to focus on these legume crops, which require less water and fewer pesticides.
00:24This initiative is slowly gaining traction.
00:28Farmer Cedric Steinle switched to these crops six years ago during the pandemic.
00:46Soon after, three local producers joined him and together they created their brand Grains d'Alsace, Grains of Alsace.
00:56Today, operating as a small cooperative, they produce more than 100 metric tons of these legumes every year.
01:04That's double the amount from three years ago.
01:07Other crops have been added too, such as chia seeds and red beans.
01:20Legumes have many nutritional benefits. They're rich in protein and fibre, and low in fat.
01:28They're good for the environment too. The plants bring atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, which is why they're considered green
01:35manure.
01:35They require less water to grow, but this year's exceptional drought has required some adjustments, even for them.
02:01The Grains d'Alsace Cooperative has been very successful throughout the region, selling to company cafeterias, hospitals and farmers markets.
02:11A recent study says French consumption of legumes is still too low to meet health recommendations, at an average of
02:201.6 kilograms per person per year.
02:25Cedric Steinle, for one, hopes that legume consumption will increase.
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